Attorney General Alerts

Resolving to Get Fit in 2016?

December 30, 2015

The holiday season is in the rearview mirror, and now it is time to put our sights on 2016 and New Year’s resolutions. Holiday meals, parties and sweets often disrupt healthy eating and fitness routines, but now is the time many individuals resolve to get back on track to a healthy lifestyle. StateOfObesity.org recently announced Arkansas has the highest adult obesity rate, at almost 36 percent, followed closely by Mississippi and West Virginia.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released today’s consumer alert to help Arkansans if they choose a gym to start or enhance a fitness regimen in 2016.

“The new year always seems like the perfect time to start a new hobby or kick a bad habit,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Many Arkansans will vow to get healthy in January and exercise is one of the best steps to living a healthier lifestyle, but I encourage you to research your options to make sure your choice meets your needs without breaking the bank.”

Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips for Arkansans to consider if you think a gym is the best choice for you:

Visit the gym during the hours you would normally use it to see if it is overcrowded. Notice whether the facilities and equipment are clean and well-maintained.

Consider the hours of operation when deciding on a gym membership.

Ask if the facility provides instructors or trainers. Many gyms will provide trainers for an additional cost.

Find out if the membership includes fitness classes and childcare and if they are included or require additional costs.

Inquire about the fees and schedule and if the facility requires a contract and auto-draft payments.

Ask about trial periods. Is there a time to sample the services and equipment for free and without any obligation to join?

Many gyms offer incentives to join during this time of year, but be cautious of high pressure sales tactics or opportunities that seem too good to be true. Do the math to ensure the monthly and annual costs are affordable. And make sure everything discussed with the sales representative is stated in the written contract before signing on the dotted line.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion encourages adults to do aerobic physical activity about 30 minutes, five times per week, and muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week.

323 Center Street, Suite 200

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

(501) 682-2007

(800) 482-8982

The Attorney General’s office will make every effort to assist you. Short forms for questions, filing a consumer complaint, reporting fraud and requesting presentations or publications are available below.

File A Consumer Complaint

Sign Up for Attorney General Alerts

Attorney General Alerts to consist of warnings about recent scams the Attorney General's office has received complaints about and topics relating to fraud and other consumer protection issues are emailed around noon every Wednesday. Previous alerts are available on our website.

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Thank you for your interest in researching Attorney General opinions. Opinions in this database have been archived since 1989. Please use the form fields below for your search inquiry.

Opinions search

Retrieve opinions

Requestor name

Retrieve an opinion by number

Full text search

Enter keywords

Capitalization DOES NOT matter when searching.

Most Recent Opinions

NOTE:Some opinions are not currently available in electronic form. Also, some footnotes may not be present in the HTML version of opinions. We are currently working to make all opinions available, with full footnotes in both versions.